Side trip to Provincetown!

The season has started, and soon we will be real busy here in Maine.  However, this year, we decided to close down for four nights and visit family and friends in Provincetown.

World famous Provincetown is located on the tip of Cape Cod 195 miles south of Ogunquit. Like Ogunquit, it's roots are in the sea, and salt is in the air. Like Ogunquit, it is a tourist destination filled with artists, gays, and general tourists. The quaint town is dotted with restaurants, art galleries and a variety of lodgings ( Inns, B&B guesthouses etc).

My good friend Jay has a house on Cook Street in the East End, and my nephew Eric also lives in the same neighborhood. Jay's house is a typical Cape Cod shingled contemporary duplex. The top floor has a sitting terrace which overlooks Cape Cod bay. The unit has three bedrooms, a large living room and two bathrooms. It's a perfect place to spend a vacation with family and friends. It's also for rent,  Ptown Vacation Rentals

Third floor terrace view from Jay Crickett's  Three bedroom rental house in the East End. 

Cape Cod National Seashore, miles of trails perfect for running and nature watching. Every morning I ran through some of the trails and byways. Michael and I also enjoyed hiking through the dunes and estuaries.

The "Breakwater" is a 1.2 milestone jetty that connects crosses Provincetown harbor to Wood End Lighthouse. Michael and I crossed the rock dike at low tide and went to the expansive deserted beach. The beach is a long stretch of sand and there are two lighthouses at both ends. The Wood End Lighthouse is now solar powered.

While hiking along the quiet secluded beach we heard a sound of something exhaling. we looked to the sea and we saw a whale that was swimming along the shore line. As I was beach combing, I found a lobster buoy, to my surprise it was from Maine!!

There is plenty to do in P-town during the day, but at night, the vibe is much different than the serene National Seashore. Commercial Street is alive with tourists and sightseers. The famous "Lobster Pot Restaurant"  is a must if you are visiting Provincetown.

This long expansive Ptown institution serves hundreds of pounds of lobster and other sea fare daily. To my surprise they now have a gluten free menu, which is quite expansive and satisfying. I had the baked lobster in butter.

March Nor'easter 2013 -Winter Storm "Saturn"

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

                                                      -Albert Camus

Entrance to the beach and the popular beachside bar appropriately named Splash

(Photo courtesy of Rick Barber)

Mainers and New Englanders are no strangers to storms. They happen every month. Some are mild. Some are fast and furious. Some are winter storms like blizzards. However, there is another type of storm that is associated with Maine and New England: The Nor'easter.

When low pressure air moves into the New England region, and  northeasterly winds blow in from the ocean this can produce a slow moving powerful storm. These storms can produce heavy rain or snow and dramatic coastal surges.  Heavy winds are also associated with these mega-storms.  This week Ogunquit and New England experienced yet another Nor'easter, named Saturn.

Winter storm Surge. View of Perkins Cove. (Courtesy of Ogunquit Police).

 

 

Saturn was a slow moving nor'easter with wind gusts up to 40mph. Ogunquit once again was prepared for coastal flooding with high tides smothering the beach and engulfing the parking lot. High seas, and 20 foot (7m) waves belted the shore and Marginal Way.  Once again, schools were cancelled.

 

Entrance to the main beach ( Video courtesy of Ogunquit Police)

 

Ogunquit is no stranger to hard New England weather.  That's why so many of us Ogunquitians cherish our glorious summers!





Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.
-Mark Twain

   (Super Storm Nemo attacking New England and beyond)

This past week was the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of '78. To many New Englanders this is still the benchmark that storms are measured.  Ironically, New England  experienced  a nor'easter and a blizzard on the anniversary. The region was belted with hurricane force winds, biting cold and two to three feet of snow.

(Ogunquit Beach Inn after "Super Storm Nemo")

Ogunquit fared quite well. Yes, there was extreme high tides, beach erosion and damage-yet the electricity did not go out ( parts of Plymouth County and Cape Cod experienced 4 to 5 days with out power). Total snow accumulation in Ogunquit was 31" inches (78cm).

(Ogunquit Square, at the beginning of the storm)

Ogunquit was prepared. Electricity stayed on, and the hardy residents of Ogunquit shoveled, plowed and watched the epic storm pass through. However, I was unable to attend this snow event. Memories of the blizzard of '78 still haunt me. After the blizzard of '78, I decided that winters in New England were not for me. Yes, I do love Maine, and all it has to offer, but the hard winter months are just not my cup of tea. Guess I am not as hardy as many of my friends and neighbors. Many of my friends take to the slopes, snow shoe and enjoy the idyllic winter days.

(Photo by Anthony Defeo, Ogunquit Beach after Nemo)

Our neighbor Tobias of the Sweet Pea Pied-a-terre gleefully stayed up all night and shoveled his tiny driveway at 3:15am in the morning. To his amazement, Cottage Street ( the street directly behind Ogunquit Beach Inn) was plowed. Ogunquit's town employees were diligent and cleaned the streets around the clock.

(Photo by Tobias Orfe of the Sweet Pea. Shoveling in the early morning hours.)

This photo is from February of 1978, corner of River Road and Beach Street. Local resident survey damage. The following shot is the same spot, 35 years later. 

Back to Costa Rica-2013

Since 1999, Michael and I have travelled to Manuel Antonio/Quepos Costa Rica.

(Greg & Michael, 1999, first trip)

It is simply one of our favorite places in the world to go! This is my ninth trip and Michael's twelfth trip to this remote resort area in the Pacific region. Going back to Manuel Antonio is great, it's like visiting an old friend: warm, comfortable and always welcoming.

Since 1999 We have stayed at Villas Nicolas. Villas Nicolas is a collection of warm self catering "hotel villas" that are situated on the top of the "hill" in Manuel Antonio overlooking the jungle and Pacific ocean. These units are rented daily/weekly or by the month.

Most of the "villas" have a small kitchenette, a well appointed bed room, sitting area and out side terraces. Units are decorated with art work from local artists. There is a wide variety of units from budget to deluxe. The grounds are a mix of native tropical plants, with three different types of monkeys that travel through the thick jungle canopy everyday. Everyday we see and hear a variety of primates at our door step!

Villas Nicolas also has a nice pool, perfect for a refreshing dip after a long hard day at the beach!

Chef Pato, a well known chef in Manuel Antonio holds court everyday (except Sunday) at El Rancho, a gourmet boutique restaurant located on the grounds of Villas Nicolas. The open air restaurant is casual, and very affordable.

The Details:

Villas Nicolas

Located at @ km 4 on top of the hill next to "Si Como No"

Manuel Antonio

High Season is Christmas to Easter

Phone directly: 011.506 2777 0481

 sales@villasnicolas.com

http://www.villasnicolas.com

The Ocean, Great Equalizer

The Ocean. It has a mind of its own. At times it's serene and calm, and other times its wild and unruly.

          Fort lauderdale Sunrise.

 (photo by Rick Barber) Marginal Way, Ogunquit, ME. 

 While sitting in the beach in Fort Lauderdale, I noticed that no one would talk to each other while sunbathing on the sand. However, something remarkable happened when people jumped into the ocean. People began to talk to each other and socialize. Its almost like "we are all in this boat together" mentality. It was then that I realized that the ocean is the great equalizer. The ocean does not care if you are rich or poor, black or white. The ocean, can soothe you and can also punish you. Feed you and dehydrate you. While swimming in the ocean, we need each other for comfort, security and companionship.

                                                                    Ogunquit Beach

                                                      
After all, we humans are made up of water. We would have an affinity for all things water especially the ocean, which is a living body with a strong personality. In the ocean, we are all the same......

Little Gregory and his Mom enjoy each other on the beach.......

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

No one can love you like your mother

                                                                                       -Helen Chinal

These are the words that my aunt Helen said to me moments after my mother passed away almost six years ago. How true these words are....

Mothers are with us all throughout much of  life ( if we are lucky). They give us life,  they feed us, take care of us, and as adults they are usually the first people we call when we have important news.
Often times, they are present at  major events in our lives: first day of school, graduations, birthdays, proms, Cub Scout banquets, music lessons, sporting events etc...

My mother was unselfish, caring and endearing. She tirelessly cleaned, cooked and chauffeured her four children, and never asked for anything in return. Every year I would ask her "what do you want for Mother's Day, Mom" her reply was always the same: "I want well behaved kids".

As I get older in life, I find that I inherited more qualities than my Celtic good looks and fair skin  from my mother. I inherited her love for all things of the sea and beach. I also inherited her love of travelling and exploring new places. My mother gave me the confidence  to "think outside the box" and see the world. She gave me the confidence to  be who I am today, for that I say Happy Mother's day!

Running on Fort Lauderdale Beach

I run virtually everyday since 2004. Running is important to me. It keeps me happy and healthy. I've ran during snow storms in Ogunquit Maine.  I have ran through steep mountains in Costa Rica. While running in Buenos Aires, I have fallen on crowded sidewalks. In the summer time, I will run 5 to 7 miles and then go to work on a Mt Bike for 8 hours with 20 pounds of gear on. I guess you could say that: I am a runner!

 One of my favorite runs is Fort Lauderdale Beach. I live in South FL for the winter. Winter time in south Florida is perfect for running. There are so many runners, races and great places to run. I run on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The beach is beautiful: There are long shady stretches with clusters of plam trees and seagrapes. There is a sidewalk that runs parallel to the beach. The sidewalk is marked with mile markers!

Route A1A hugs the ocean. I start at the north side of the beach and run south to Fort Lauderdale's "South Beach Park" and back. If I am motivated, I'll run to 17th street causeway and back. The run is 5 to 6 miles daily. This is also part of the route for the A1A Marathon/Half Marathon. I have done the last four half marathons.  Its truly a pleasure to see the ocean, surfers, runners, swimmers, tourists, locals and cruise ships. There is something interesting to see everyday!

My run takes me past the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Las Olas Drive, Sunrise Boulevard, Bonnet House Museum, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

The only thing that stops me is blinding rain. I am not a treadmill guy. The mechanics of running en plein aire, and on a machine are completely different. I dont feel like I am getting a good workout on a machine. And, with beautiful scenery everyday, why wouldn't I run??

Autumn Colors, Ogunquit style.....

Its the season of autumn that the local people seem to love the most. Long walks on uncrowded beaches. Quiet time to reflect life in a village that bustles in the summer time, and becomes sleepy and relaxed in the fall. As the colors of the trees change, so do the colors on the beach.
The late afternoon sky cast a spectrum of blues, grays and red.....


The beach plums cast an autumnal glow to the sand dunes...







I am at the beach usually a couple of times a day. Usually once in the
morning for a run. I like how the sun emerges over the Atlantic and wakes the town.

I like to walk the beach around sunset, when the bright sun slips beneath  the tidal dunes, and the day evolves into night.



Ogunquit Beach Inn